Biking & Hiking in Mammoth

I recently came across an article about Mammoth Lakes in the Las Vegas Review Journal in which the writer boasts about the cool Mammoth summers, unlimited sightseeing, and “best hiking and mountain-biking paradises in the state” in the area.

“That’s my town, that’s my town!” I wanted to yell.

So without further ado, I wanted to highlight the three sights that appealed to this writer (and almost every tourist when visiting Mammoth) and shed some light on what to expect:

Just an hour outside of town, this monument is composed of vertical stone columns created by a volcanic event nearly 100,000 years ago. Meadows and waterfalls adorn the hiking trails leading to the monument, with the basalt formations leaving sightseers with both a sense of mystery and curiosity. This is also where the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail intersect, so keep an eye out for some avid backpackers.

Only a 2.6 mile loop, you won’t regret making this hike. You can hear the falls from yards away and are greeted with an inviting mist once you reach the destination of the 100-foot waterfall. When there’s a little less water, you can even make your way down to the base of the falls.

#3) Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center

Get some mountain biking in! Take the gondola from here to the “Off the Top” trail where you can catch a sweet downhill bike ride. With the current snowmelt, you may want to wait until a little later in the summer to catch this trail.